Special B Malt (Castle Maltings)
Castle Maltings Special B Malt
Special B malt is a dark Belgian caramel malt from Castle Malting.
Made from premium two-row barley, it delivers intense colour and a deep malt complexity prized in rich Belgian styles.
It contributes flavours of dark caramel, raisin, plum, and hints of burnt sugar.
Its unique kilning pushes caramelisation beyond standard crystal malts, building body and leaving residual sweetness that balances higher attenuation.
Malt Profile
- Colour (EBC): 260–320
- Flavour: Intense caramel, dark fruit (raisin, plum), burnt sugar
- Usage Rate: Up to 15% of the grist
Flavour & Brewing Impact
Special B adds rich layers of caramel and dark fruit, enhancing body and residual sweetness.
It’s excellent for creating complexity and smoothing bitterness in strong, malt-forward recipes.
Beer Styles
Perfect for Belgian and dark ales that need deep colour and a layered malt core.
- Dubbel: Adds raisin and caramel behind spicy yeast esters.
- Quadrupel: Contributes dark fruit sweetness to balance ABV warmth.
- Porter: Builds caramel complexity beyond chocolate roast.
- Old Ale: Highlights dried fruit and dark sugar in aged styles.
- Baltic Porter: Supports a smooth, malty backbone with subtle raisin.
Malt Substitutes
Special B is known for its strong dark fruit character. If needed, you can swap for similar dark caramel malts based on flavour goal and colour.
- Weyermann Caramunich Type 3: Slightly lighter fruit, more classic caramel.
- Crisp Crystal Extra Dark: Comparable colour, with more burnt sugar, less raisin.
- Melanoidin Malt: Adds malt body and colour, but lacks the signature dried fruit notes.
Brewer’s Tip
Use at 5–10% of the grist for pronounced dark fruit and caramel notes, or up to 15% for bold raisin and burnt sugar character in quads, strong ales, or porters.
